Pressure connector



G. M. CRESSON PRESSURE CONNECTOR Filed July 15, 1953 Feb. 5, 1957 INVENTOR. 6.- WI. 67551550 Www;

PRESSURE CGNNECTOR George M. Cresson, Lynbrook, N. Y., assignor to International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 15, 1953, Serial No. 368,160

11 Claims. (Cl. 339-276) This invention relates to an arrangement for connecting an electrical conductor to a terminal, and particularly to a connector which provides good electrical contact between the conductor and the terminal by continuous pressure or compression force exclusive of solder, weld or like connecting means.

More specifically, this invention relates to the so called pressure or mechanical connector for electrically joining a conductor to a terminal.

For many years, there has been an endeavor in the industry to find a connecting means which does not rely upon solder or weld to properly secure the conductor to the terminal and which can be easily applied, without threaded connections or the like. Various types of pressure connectors have been developed; however, none of the known type connectors satisfactorily solved the problem. in some instances, the mechanical connector proved to be just as expensive as the soldering operation and therefore vitiated the very purpose of the development. Other types of connectors were found unsatisfactory for technical reasons. In this latter category, one type of connector was preformed to partially surround the terminal and conductor, and in the final step of assembly the edges of the connector were swaged by a special tool to press the conductor against the terminal. However, the form of this type of connector lacked inherent contractile bias and therefore, the connector, in a relatively short period of time, lost its holding-ability. Another type of connector which was found unsatisfactory for the same reasons as the swaged type connector was the type in which the connector was crimped to force the conductor against the terminal. In this type of connector, the crimping of a given area on the connector caused the remaining area to become relatively loose about the terminal, thereby reducing its efficiency. Moreover, there is always the tendency for the crimped metal to spring back, so that it is ditlicult to obtain uniformly good contact with this type of connector. A third type of pressure connector is known as the compression type; this type of connector was preformed and a comparatively heavy tool was required to compress the connectoragainst the terminal to make good electrical contact therewith, and here again the tendency to spring back produced an inherent disadvantage. Moreover, since the connector of this invention finds particular applicability in the telephone industry, where the terminals are spaced usually closely together, the compression type connector which required a heavy and sizeable tool obviously was unsatisfactory because of the space limitations.

in addition to the above shortcomings, these various prior art connectors cannot be readily removed, without danger of damage to the terminal, the connector or both.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a connecting arrangement which includes the combination of the connector, and the tool for applying the connector, which are simple, inexpensive to'manufacture, capabie of mass production methods, applicable where t States Patent 2,780,794 Patented Feb. 5, 1957 space limitations are imposed and which can be applied and removed quickly and easily.

It is a feature of this invention to provide a connecting arrangement whereby the connector may be removed without damage to the connector thereby permitting the connector to be re-used' .Another object of my invention is to provide a connector which upon being applied over the terminal, produces a rubbing as well as pressure action and thus wipes clean the conductors, thereby ensuring good electrical contact therewith.

A feature of my invention is to provide a tool for applying my unique connector automatically and rapidly.

In accordance with a broad aspect of my invention, there is provided an arrangement for connecting an electrical conductor to a terminal comprising a resilient electrical connector member dimensioned for a light press fit on said terminal. A tool is provided for forcing the connector member over the terminal and conductor to achieve a wiped contact at a sustained pressure between said conductor and said terminal. This produces a fit tighter than said light press fit because the connector is forced over both the conductor and terminal.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood, by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows in cross-section a view taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing a tool applying a connector to the terminal illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3A shows an end view of the jaws of the tool;

Pig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a type of magazine feed adapted to permit automatic and rapid application of the connector over the terminal;

Fig. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the terminal used in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 shows the tool adapted to remove the connector from the terminal.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a preferred arrangement for connecting an electrical conductor 1 to a flat elongate terminal strip 2. The terminal is provided with an opening 3, shown as a slot formed longitudinally in the terminal 2; the opening being of dimensions to receive the conductor 1 with little clearance.

The conductor is passed through the opening to eX- tend through the terminal 2. A resilient connector member t is provided, preformed in the shape of a clip and having a base portion 5, and a pair of integral arms 6 and 7 reversely disposed towards each other to form a substantially C-shaped element. The arms andbase portions are so dimensioned to slide with a light press fit over the terminal, without the conductor positionedtlierein. Therefore, when the connector is forced over the terminal and conductor, it will wipe the longitudinal edges of the terminal and the engaging surface of the wire thereby providing good electrical contact between the wire and connector and between the opposite edges of the .terminal and connector. Since the connector is made from a suitably resilient material, the proper pressure'is substantially maintained, i. e., pressure to maintain suitable electrical contact between the terminal and the conductor.

A tool for applying the connector 4 to force that por tion of the conductor extending below the terminal against the bottom of the terminal strip is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 3 and 3A. The particular design of the tool may be varied to suit a specific purpose. For this reason, only a diagrammatic showing of the operating members explaining the principles of operation is shown. The tool 8 comprises a pair of diametrically opposed jaws 9 and 10 for gripping a pair'of oppositely disposed notches 11 and 12 formed'in the longitudinal edges of the terminal 2. The jaws 9 and ltl'are guided through, or on side of, a hollow tubular body portion 13. The ends 14 and 15, respectively, of the jaws 9 and it) maybe pro- 'vided with angular notches or grooves such as shown in Fig. 3A to improve the frictional grip on the terminal 2. Of course, it is to be realized that if the frictional grip of the grooves is sufiiciently great against the longitudinal edges of the terminal, the notches 11 and 12 will not be required.

As shown by Fig. 3, the end of the terminal 2 is positioned in alignment with the opening of the clip 4, whereby the clip is applied over the terminal by producing a relative longitudinal movement between jaw members 9, 10 and the body portion 13, which holds the clip 4 in fixed position relative thereto. Of course alignment may be, and preferably is, facilitated by a suitable lead or locating device in the nose of the tool. By way of example, the tool illustrated in Fig. 3, comprises a pair of'hand grips 17 and 18 pivotally connected at 19. A spring 2 may be provided to maintain the hand grips in the position shown when the tool is not operated. In the example, it is seen that by squeezing the hand grips together, a bridge member 21 mechanically coupling the jaw members 9 and 10, fixes the jaw members on the terminal, and relative motion is produced in the body portion 13. The bridge member 21 is coupled to the handle 18 via a stud 22 fastened to a connecting rod 23; the connecting rod 23 actuating the bridge member and thus the jaw members.

Referring to Fig. 4, one arrangement is shown for feeding the clip 3 to the tool member 8 in which'the tool is manually fed by loading clips into the tubular portion 24 of the housing 13. The tubular portion should be long enough to provide a bridge between the one being applied and the actuating mechanism at the rear. The tool also may be automatically loaded by means of a magazine resembling a machine gun feed belt such as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this way, as a connector leaves the tubular portion, another connector from the magazine is fed to the tube to replenish the supply. Obviously, many other methods for feeding the connectors to the tubular portion 24 may be devised in accordance with the principles of this invention.

A second embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In this embodiment a tubular type terminal 25 is used having sufiicient flanges to be secured in an insulated panel such as shown at 26. The upper portion 27 of the tubular terminal 25 may resemble a segment of a sphere or the top thereof may be apertured. However, in either case a slot 28 (Fig. 6) is formed in the cylindrical portion of the terminal, into which the conductor 1 is placed. Vertically below the ends of the slot 28, there may be provided in the terminal, recessed portions 29 and 30, respectively, into which the conductor 1 is pressed upon application of the connector 31. Recessed portions 29 and 30 should not be of such depth as to receive entirely the diameter of the conductor. In this embodiment the connector 31 is in the shape of a cap member having a crown portion 32 and a top portion 33 provided with a hole 34. The connector may be applied in a manner similar to the one described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 1. Thus, the ends'14, 15 of the jaws 9 and 10, grip a collar 35 formed on the surface of the terminal, so that the connector may be forced over the terminal, wiping and wedging the conductor into the recessed portions 29 and 30. 7

It is to be realized that in each of these cases, the connector is so dimensioned to actually wipe the contacting portions between the connector and the conductor, to

provide a good electrical contact therebetween at a sustained pressure.

Also, in both of the above-mentioned cases, the connector may be easily and simply removed by means of an attachment 36 in the form of a stud, which may be positioned inside the hollow tubular portion and abutting the end 37, thereof as shown in Fig. 7. In the second embodiment, the stud 36 is placed through the hole 34 in the top portion of the connector 31 and abuts the terminal portion 27 of the tubular terminal 25. The ends of the jaws 14 and 15 are positioned below the lower edge 38 of the crown portion 32, and by producing relative motion between the jaws 9, 10 and the stud 36, the connector is simply removed from the terminal. In the first embodiment, the connector is simply removed from the flat terminal 2 by positioning the stud 36 to abut the end of the terminal 2 and positioning the jaws 9 and 10, as shown in Fig. 7, to abut against the clip 4 whereby the clip is removed by retracting the jaws.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for connecting an electrical conductor to a terminal, comprising means for joining loosely said conductor to said terminal, a resilient electrical connector member dimensioned for a light press fit on said terminal, and a tool comprising means for gripping said terminal, means for engaging said connector member, and means mechanically coupling said gripping means and said member-engaging means for forcing said connector member over said terminal and conductor, to achieve a wiped contact at a sustained pressure between said conductor and said terminal, and to produce a fit tighter than said light press fit.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said connector is in the shape of a clip having a base portion and a pair of integral arms reversely disposed towards each other, the arms and base portions being dimensioned to slide with a light press fit over said terminal.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is a flat elongate member having a pair of oppositely disposed notches formed in the longitudinal edges thereof a given distance from the leading edge of said connector, and the gripping means of said tool comprises a pair of diametrically opposed jaws for gripping said notches while applying said connector member to said terminal.

4. In an arrangement for connecting an electrical conductor to a flat elongate terminal strip having an opening formed therein, said opening being approximately the size of the conductor, whereby a portion of the conductor may be passed through said opening to extend beyond said flat strip, said terminal strip having a pair of oppositely disposed notchesformed in the longitudinal edges thereof; a resilient connector member in the shape of a clip having a base portion and a pair of integral arms reversely disposed towards each other, the arms and base portions being dimensioned to slide with a light press fit over said terminal strip; a tool for forcing said connector over said terminal strip and conductor thereby forcing the conductor against said terminal strip and achieving a wiped contact at a sustained pressure between said conductor and said terminal strip, said tool comprising a pair of diametrically opposed jaws for gripping said notches, and means mechanically coupled to said jaws for causing relative movement between said means and said jaws for simultaneously sliding said connector over said terminal. I

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said tool further comprises a hollow tube for holding a plurality of said clips in alignment, the leading clip of which is applied over said terminal strip, and means for moving said aligned clips forward after said first clip is removed.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said tool further comprises means for feeding clips to said tube, whereby there is maintained continuously a given number of clips in said hollow tube.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said connector is in the shape of a cap member having a crown portion and a top portion, the crown portion thereof being dimensioned to slide with a light press fit over said terminal and conductor.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is a tubular member comprising a circumferential collar projecting on the surface of said member but spaced from said connector, and said tool comprises a pair of diametrically opposed jaws for gripping said collar.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is a tubular member including an aperture formed by a cut-out segment in the top portion thereof dividing it into two parts, the cut-out segment being approximately the thickness of the conductor, said member comprising longitudinal recessed portions extending a given distance from the ends of said aperture, whereby the conductor is wiped and forced tightly into the recessed portions upon said connector being applied over said terminal.

10. An arrangement for connecting an electrical conductor to a tubular terminal having an aperture formed by a cut-out segment in the end portion thereof, dividing the end into two parts, the cut-out segment being approximately the thickness of the conductor for loosely receiving said conductor, said terminal comprising longitudinal recessed portions extending a given distance from the ends of said aperture, and a circumferential collar projecting on the surface of said member but spaced from said recessed portions, a resilient connector member in the shape of a cap having a crown portion and an end portion, the crown portion thereof being dimensioned to slide with a light press fit over said terminal; a tool for forcing said connector member over said terminal and conductor, thereby forcing said conductor into the recessed portions and achieving a wiped contact at a sustained pressure between said conductor and terminal, said tool comprising a pair of diametrically opposed jaws for gripping said collar, and means mechanically coupled to said jaws for simultaneously sliding said connector memher over said terminal.

11. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the end portion of said cap is provided with an opening, and said tool comprises means for removing said cap from said terminal, said means comprising a stud fastened to said tool and extending through said opening to abut against said terminal, the jaws being positioned to engage the edge of said crown portion and means to produce relative movement between said jaws and said stud to remove the cap from said terminal.

Jacobson Oct. 9, 1906 McCormick June 5, 1934 

